Compartment shelf and divider



p 1940- o. M. BURKHART 7 2,215,208

COMPARTMENT SHELF AND DIVIDER Filed May 3, 1959 FIE 1 Inwenfor M attorney Patented Sept. 17, 1940 (UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE ooMPARTMEN'r SHELF AND DIV DER Oliver M. Burkhart, East Moline, Ill, 1 Application May 3, 1939, Serial No. 271,589 5Claims. (o1.211-135) The invention consists of a shelf formed of My invention has reference to a compartment shelf and divider, and is more specially designed for usein automobile compartments, such as are provided in the front of a vehicle, for the storage of maps, gloves, and other small articles. These compartments usually contain a single space, and of limited dimensions, and when a number of small articles are placed therein, there is frequently difiiculty in finding the ones wanted.

One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a shelf of simple construction, which can be installed in a compartment, and divide the same into upper and lower spaces. In order to suitably support the shelf, plates are provided extending downwardly into the lower space, and dividing the same into subspaces or compartments. A number of small receptacles are thus provided for the storage of various articles, by selection, and in convenient position for removal when needed.

Another purpose of the invention is to have the supports, or partitions, connected with the shelf in such a manner that they can be adjusted in position longitudinally of the shelf, and not only change the point of support of the plate, but also vary the sizes of the spaces in the lower compartment. Included therewith is a plate extension for the shelf, by means of which the length of the shelf can be adjusted, so that the same may conform to compartments of different lengths. Resilient means is also provided for holding the shelf plates yieldably in place, so that they will fill the space for which they are intended.

The above named, and other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the invention in front elevation, as it appears in place in a compartment.

Fig. 2 is a lower face view thereof.

Fig. 3 shows the parts of the invention in exploded view.

The reference number 6 indicates a fragmentary portion of a closure, such as the front wall or instrument board of an automobile, which closure is provided with an opening I, fitted with a door 8, connected with the plate 6 by hinges 9, so as to open downwardly, as shown. Said door is provided with a knob II] for operation. This description, relates to .a construction common to automobiles, and in rear of the door is a space having end walls II, forming a compartment for the storage of small articles, such as road maps, gloves, and the like,

plates I2 and IS, the latter of which is slidable onlthe plate- I2, and guided by a rolled edge I4 on the plate I2, engaging the edges of the plate I3. The .shelf thus formed is provided with a. pair of supports I5 and IS, the lower edges of which rest upon the floor of the compartment, and support the shelf at a desired height. The ends of the compartment are usually inclined a little, and the ends of the plates I2 and I3 are similarly sloped.

The support I5 is formed of a. sheet metal plate formed integrally with the plate I3, and bent downwardly at right angles therewith. The plate It has an angular flange IT the ends of which are slidable in the rolled edges of plate I2, with sufficient frictional engagement to hold the support I6 in adjusted positions. The position of the latter support can thereby be made to conform with that of the support I5, which is movable with the plate I3.

It will be observed that the plates I5 and I6 not only provide supports for the shelf, but that they form partitions or dividers for the space below the shelf, forming three spaces, or sub-compartments therein. These spaces, together with the space above the shelf, provide a number of receptacles for small objects, in which said objects can be conveniently distributed, so as to be easily located again when wanted. The plate I3 is held yieldably in extended position by means of a spring I9, the ends of which are engaged with small recesses 20 of suitable size embossed in the rolled edges of the plate I2. Said spring is formed into a bend 2i, engaged with a slit (not shown) in the upper part of the support I5. Other pairs of recesses 2E9 are provided in the rolled. edge I l, with which the ends of the spring can be selectively engaged, to vary the positioning thereof, and force of the spring.

To place the device in position in a compartment the supports I5 and I8 may be grasped by the hands, and the supports moved towards each other, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, reducing the length of the shelf, and permitting the same to readily pass through the opening. The parts are then permitted to spread, by force of the spring I9, until the ends of the shelf come in contact with the ends of the compartment, against which they are tightly held, so as not to rattle. If it is desired to remove the shelf this can be done by reversing the above operation.

The parts of the device are first formed in flat position, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the plates can be packed together in a small space for storage or shipment. When they are to be used the supports [5 and iii are bent downwardly, and the parts assembled, ready for use.

Changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure, is:

1. In combination with a closed compartment a pair of shelf forming plates having a slidable adjustment with each other in contact at their ends with the end walls of the compartment, means for holding said plates yieldably in extended position, and means for the support of said plates connected therewith and forming subcompartments beneath said plates.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a plate having rolled edges, an auxiliary plate slidable in said rolled edges, a spring on one of said plates bearing against the other plate to hold the plates yieldably in extended position, and means for the support of said plates on the floor of a compartment.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a main plate having rolled edges at its sides, a second plate slidable at its edges in said rolled edges, a plate support integral with said second plate, a support having a flange slidable in said rolled edges, for adjustment on said main plate, and means for holding said plates yieldably extended.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a pair of sheet-metal shelf-forming plates provided with connections for slidable extensible and contractable movement with relation to each other, one of said plates having a part bendable at right angles therewith to form a support for such shelf, and anauxiliary plate having a slidable relation with the other of said plates, and having a part bendable at right angles therewith to provide an additional shelf support in parallel relation with said first named support.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a main shelf-forming plate, a pair of plates connected with said main plate for slidable movement lengthwise thereof, and provided with angular plates forming shelf supports and dividing the space beneath the shelf into smaller spaces, the adjustment of said supports with relation to each other effecting a variation in the sizesand proportions of the smaller spaces.

OLIVER M. BURKHART. 

